Emanuel Cleaver backs Medicare means test

The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus on Friday said he would accept means-testing of Medicare as part of a deficit reduction deal.

“I think we’ve got to do Medicare,” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “It’s going to pull this economy down. We’ve got to deal with it. And I think most rational people, including Democrats, realize that we’ve got to make some cuts or deal with Medicare. But, you know, let’s have some means testing.”

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Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat whose term as caucus chair is ending at the end of this congressional session, said means-testing Medicare for wealthy retirees would be a more palatable option than across-the-board cuts.

“I don’t think that cutting benefits at this time is going to go over well,” Cleaver said. “We can do means testing and reduce the payments.”